Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-14
ACT. NOW, NOT NEXT MONTH

AZ L w " W. III Wv L II.
Again, impressed by the gravity of th'
situation, THE GAZETTE urges the legis
lature, which will meet to-day, not Il
waste any time in devising measures o
relief for the $4,000 destitute people il
the counties where the dTouth of las
year left men, women and children il
such pitiable plight. This measure
should take precedence of everything
else. The land question, whether in
golving the lease law or Greer county
can wait; so can the prohibitery amend
ment matter; the reformatoTy fol
Juveniles, the appropriation for per diem
of members, and everything else. 1t is
not meant by urging haste that bill
should be introduced tomorrow morning,
passed By both houses and signed by The
governor before midday. Any measure
that is suggested must Of course receive
careful consideration and be discussed,
and several days will be thus consumed.
But what is meant is that the legislature
shall recognize the fact that this matter
overshadoHs all others and that no OBJ
structions shall be placed IN the way OF the
speedy passage OF broad, practical
measure Of relief. The whole pitiable
tale of suffering and want is now known
to the world as Well as to the people of
Texas. There is no occasion to send a
legislative committee to the section that
is afflicted to investigate the situation
and return to Austin with report, which
must be debated and wrangled over be-
fore anything is done. The twenty odd
counties whose people are directly in
terested have representatives and
senators in the legislature, and these
gentlemen can be relied on to tell what
is needed. They can best suggest what
form of relief will meet the necessities of
their people, and if they are allowed to do
so there is little doubt they can within
q few days formulate plan that will meet
all the requirements of the situation. THE
GAZETTE is not disposed to tender spe-
cific suggestions, that is, as TO the details
of relief measures. Ali that The GAZETTE
contends for is prompt action-suy plan
that will deal with the emergency and
let the suffering people know what they
can expect. The legislature cannot shirk
the responsibility of esrly action, nor do
we believe there will be any disposition
to do SO. The whole country is aware
that the Texas legislature is in session
and people everywhere will look for acts,
not words. 1t is known, too, that the
state is amply able to relieve all the sui
feriDg that exists without forcing her
afflicted people to appeal to outside char
ity. Already the state has been subjected
to criticisms because of what seemed like
supineness ana indisposition to deal with
this matter. People abroad cannot IN
derstand and, therefore, do not take into
consideration the fact that it is only
within the past two weeks the people of
this state, as whole, were apprised of
the true magnitude of the emergency.
Let the action of the legislature be so
prompt, broad and grand that whatever
loss of prestige Texas may have suffered
by reason of the unfortunate delay in
finding out and making provision for this
overwhelming calamity, shall be con-
pIetelY and forever restored.